Apparatus for forming duplicate sound-record cylinders.



No. 728,607. PATENTED MAY 19, 1903'.

A.. N. PETIT. APPARATUS FOR FORMING DUPLICATE SOUND RECORD CYLINDERS.

APPLIQATION IILED MAY 16, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES.

Patented May 19, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

ADEMOR N. PETIT, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE INTER- NATIONAL PHONOGRAPH AND INDESTRUOTIBLE RECORD COMPANY, LIMITED, OF LIVERPOOL; ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR FORMING DUPLICATE SOUND-RECORD CYLINDERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 728,607, dated May 19, 1903. Application filed May 15, 1902. Serial No. 107,453. (No model.)

To ail whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADEMOR N. PETI'IV, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in Apparatus for Forming Duplicate Sound-Record Cylinders, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to produce a more perfect and commercial sound-record of cylindrical form and made of celluloid or other similar or suitable material than it has heretofore been possible to producein an effort to overcome the harsh and grating soundsduplicate sound-record cylinders of celluloid usually incident to records of celluloid.

In an application of even date and copending herewith I have illustrated and described a metal matrix suitable for my present invention.

In carrying out my invention the blank of celluloid or other suitable material is preferably made with inturned ends of varying di= ameters to agree with and fit the taper mandrel of the reproducing-machine, and this blank is passed into the matrix from the lower open end. The matrixis then received upon a suitable base, also formed to receive oneend of the blank, and the base and the matrix are to be connected so as to form an, air-tight joint. The base is provided with means for exhausting the air and any moisture that there may be between the outer surface of the celluloid blank and the inner surface of the matrix and for maintaining the vacuum after the same has been established. Before' effecting this vacuum I insert elastic washers within and at the respective ends of the celluloid blank as the same is in position Within the matrix and upon the base, and spring-actuated tension-rods serve to force the elastic washers against the respective ends of the celluloid blank, the matrix, and the base, thus forming an air-tight joint at the ends of the blank not only as the vacuum is being effected, but to prevent the ingress of fluid under pressure afterward employed. Between the spring-actuated tension-rods and the elastic washers I prefer to employ clamping-rings as seats for the ends of said tension-rods and for the purpose of holding and forcing the elastic washers to place. then placed in the receptacle having a removable cover, and through a pipe of the cover steam or hot water is introduced into the receptacle and within the blank to soften the same and force the blank outward into the interstices of the matrix to produce the reverse of the matrix and make a duplicate sound-record of cylindrical form. This is afterward cooled and removed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section and partial elevation representing the complete apparatus and parts employed by me for carrying out my method of forming or similar material. Fig. 2 is a vertical section and partial'elevation of the parts directly associated for the purpose of effecting the vacuum, and Fig. 3 is an inverted plan of the upper clamping-ring.

The matrix employed comprises a ring or annulus c at the lower end, a ring or annulus d at the upper end, and an intervening electrodeposited cylinder 6, the said parts 0 cl 2 forming an integral whole or matrix in which the blankf is received, (referring to Fig. 2,) and after the insertion into the matrix of the celluloid blank the matrix is secured by the screws 4 to a'base g, which base is provided with a flange interiorly threaded in part and to which the base-block his secured by screwing the parts together with an intervening washer, which forms an air-tight joint. It will be noticed that in the base of the matrix there is an annular groove, and in this I place a packing-ring 7, and the adjacent surfaceof the base 9 is preferably made with shallow concentric grooves, so that when the matrix and the base 9 are connected by the screws 4 the packing '7 fills the grooves and at this point also makes an air-tight joint. In the center of the base there is a tap-screw 9, passing through the base, with the head above the base, and a washer, preferably of elastic character, between the head and the base, and thisscrew is made with a conical end, and the center of the base-block is perforated, the upper end of the perforation being conical to receive the conical end of the tap-screw 9.

Within the celluloid blank f and at the re- This apparatus is spective ends (see also Fig. 1) are flexible or elastic material washers 10 11, covered by clamping-rings 1' 7c, and between saidclamping-rings I employ spring-actuated tensionrods m, the office of which is to press the clamping-rings apart and press the flexible or elastic washers 1O 11 against the respective ends of the celluloid blank and the matrix at one end and the base g at the other end, so as to effectually close off the joint between the ends of the celluloid blank and the matrix and base, and so prevent the entrance of air or of any material that may be within the blank passing between the surface of the blank and the surface of the matrix. These clamping-rings 2' 7c are preferably made in two parts for ready insertion within the matrix and celluloid blank, and they are preferably provided upon theirsurfaces contacted with by the spring-actuated extension-rods 'm with recesses into which the ends of said extension-rods pass, so as to prevent their shifting from the position in which they are placed. Through the base g there 'are apertures 8, which vertically agree with the line of division between the inner surface of the matrix e and the outer surfaceof the celluloid blank, and before the parts are inserted into the receptacle n I apply a device 0 for exhausting air to the lower surface of the base-block h, adjacent to the central opening therein and preferably in a recess provided therefor, and at the same time I loosen the tap-screw 9, so as to exhaust any air that there may be between the juxtaposed surfaces of the matrix and blank of celluloid or similar material and to remove also any moisture that there may be between said-surfaces, thus preparing for close and intimate contact of said surfaces during the further treatment of the blank. Upon exhausting this air and removing the moisture the tap-screw 9 is forced tightly down to its seat to close off the opening in the baseblock it and complete the seal of the parts. The apparatus is then placed in the receptacle n, the removable cover is fastened thereon, and through the pipe 12 in the cover steam or hot water is introduced into the receptacle and within the celluloid blank and against the inner surface thereof and pressure is applied, the heat softening the blank and the pressure forcing the same outward into all the delicate interstices of the matrix and at the same time forcing the turned-over end of the celluloidvhlank against the matrix to receive the impression of the same, the intimate contact thus effected being made possible and insured by the previous removal of the air and moisture from the juxtaposed surfaces of the matrix and blank. I do not limit myself to the use of steam or hot Water, as any fluid under pressure and in the presence of heat may serve an equal purpose. After maintaining the pressure and heat for the desired period the celluloid duplicate sound-record is cooled, preferably by the introduction of cold water.v This fixes the celluloid or similar ma terial, reduces it to its normal non-plastic condition, causes a slight shrinkage or contraction of the same, which appreciably separates the surface of the duplicate sound-record cylinder from the surface of the matrix. The apparatus is then removed from the receptacle n and the parts separated, and the duplicate sound-record cylinder taken out of the matrix, the same then becoming a finished article of commerce.

feet surface depends upon exhausting the air between the j uxtaposed surfaces of the matrix and celluloid-blank cylinder before the application of heat and pressure to soften and force the material into intimate contact with the matrix-surface; otherwise any air or gases or moisture that may exude from the molding composition during the application of heat and pressure will lodge between the matrix and material and cause the surface of the record-cylinder to yield an imperfect reproduction in which crackling and hissing sounds are in evidence.

Previous to inserting the blank of celluloid or other suitable material in the matrix and applying thereto heat and pressure I may prefer to treat the surface thereof with the solvent preparation described in Letters Patent granted to me December 4, 1900, No. 662,961, so as to slightly soften the surface and insure the most intimate contact.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination with an electrodeposit matrix having integral ring-like ends, the aperture in the upper of which is of less diameter than the inner diameter of the matrix, of a base to which the matrix is secured and within and between which matrix and base the celluloid blank is' received, a base-block adapted to be connected to the base, means for closing the respective ends of the celluloid blank in their relation to the matrix and the base so as to prevent ingress of fluid between the juxtaposed surfaces of the matrix and blank, means for exhausting the air and removing moisture from between said juxtaposed surfaces and for thereafter sealing the same, and means for applying heat and pressure against the celluloid blank for softening and forcing the same into intimate contact with the surface of the matrix, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with an electrodeposit matrix havingjntegral ring-like ends, the aperture in the upper of which is of less diameter than the inner diameter of the matrix, of a base to which the matrix is secured and within and between which matrix and base the celluloid blank is received, a base-block adapted to be connected to the base, packings forforming air-tight joints between the base and base-block and between the matrix and base, there being perforations in the base in line with the inner surface of the matrix, and a central perforation in the base-block having a conical seat, a tap-screw passing through the base with a conical end seated in the baseblock, its head above the base and an intervening washer, flexible or elastic material washers Within and at the respective ends of the celluloid blank covering the meeting edges of said blank with the matrix and base, clamping-rings against said flexible or elastic washers and spring-actuated extension-rods between said clamping-rings tending to force the elastic-material washers to their seats, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination with an electrodeposit matrix comprising a body of electrodeposited metal carrying upon its inner surface the impression of the record-cylinder and ends 'formed of rings or annuli connected with the body and forming an integral matrix, said matrix having an opening at one end of the full internal diameter and a contracted opening at the other end and adapted to receive a blank passed into the matrix at the larger open end, of a base and means for securing the matrix at its larger open end thereto, said base and outer matrix end being so constructed as to receive the ends of the celluloid blank, a base-block to which the base is secured, and means for forming air-tight joints between the matrix and base and between the base and the base-block, elastic devices and pressure devices within and at'the ends of the celluloid blank and matrix for sealing thejoints of the celluloid blank with the matrix and base, means for exhausting air between the juxtaposed sur-. faces of the matrix and blank and for sealing the same, means for applying heat and pressure within the celluloid blank to soften the same and to force the celluloid into intimate contact with the interstices of the matrix, and for thereafter cooling the celluloid for the removal of the finished duplicate sound-record cylinder, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with an electrodeposit matrix, comprising a body of electrodeposited metal carrying upon .its inner surface the impression of the record-cylinder and ends formed of rings or annuli connected with the body and forming an integral matrix, said matrix having an opening at one end of the full internal diameter and a contracted opening at the other end, a tapering internal portion and shoulder and adapted to receive a blank passed into the matrix at the larger open end, of a base and means for securing the matrix at its larger open end thereto, said base being so constructed as to receive the one end of the celluloid blank and said tapering portion the other end, a base-block to which the base is secured, and means for. forming air-tight joints between the matrix and base and between the base and the baseblock, elastic devices and pressure devices Within and at the ends of the celluloid blank and matrix for sealing the joints of the celluloid blank with the matrix and base, means for exhausting air between the juxtaposed surfaces of the matrix and blank and for sealing the same, means for applying heat and pressure within the celluloid blank to soften the same and to force the celluloid into intimate contact with the interstices of the matrix, and for thereafter cooling the celluloid for the removal of the finished duplicate sound-record cylinder, substantially as set forth.

Signed by methis 6th day of May, 1902.

r ADEMOR N. PETIT.

Witnesses;

GEO. T. PINCKNEY, S. T. HAVILAND. 

